Commode.



PATENTED NOV. 7, 1905.

L. LOTZ. GOMMODE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.17,1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

UNITED STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

COMMODE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

PatentedNov. '7, 1905.

Application filed August 17, 1904. Serial No. 221,000.

T0 00% whom, 716 may concern.-

Be it known that I, LOUISA LoTz, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gross Park, Chicago, Cook county, Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Commodes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is concerned with a novel commode that is adapted for domestic and hospital purposes and that can be readily adjusted for'the use of different-sized individuals and especially for both adults and children.

It is also designed to produce a device of the class described that shall be simple in its construction and readily cleaned, so that it can be easily kept in a sanitary condition.

To illustrate my invention, I annex hereto two sheets of drawings, in which the same reference characters are used to designate identical parts in all of the figures, of which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete apparatus, showing it adjusted for the use of an adult. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing it adjusted for the use of a child. Fig. 3 is a central Vertical section through the apparatus, showing it adjusted for a child and with the parts closed. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the upper portion of the bowl or receptacle, and Fig. 5 is a similar view of the lower portion of the telescoping receptacle.

In carrying out my invention I preferably employ a rectangular box-like main frame 10. which is preferably constructed of wood, so that it may be light enough to be made portable, if desired. In the front of this main frame I locate a door 11 or a pair of them, giving access to the interior to remove the receptacle.

Just inside of the main frame 10 is a supplemental frame 12, which is adapted to move vertically in the main frame and to fit therein snugly enough to keep it in position, while at the same time permitting its easy movement up or down when the apparatus is to be adjusted. This supplemental frame is preferably supported by a plurality of helicallycoiled expansible springs 13, which I have the supplemental frame in any desired position of adjustment, I employ two or more pins 17, which preferably take the form of thumbscrews and which pass through the metallic bushings 18, set into the sides of the main frame 10 opposite the elongated metallic strips 19, which are set into the adjacent faces of the supplemental frame and which are provided with the recesses 20, through which the end of the pin 17 passes to secure the supplemental frame in either of the adjustments shown. The top of this supplemental frame is covered by the main seat 21, which has an aperture designed for the use of adults and which is supported in any suitable way, as upon the strips 22, secured to the inner sides of the supplemental frame.

The receptacle is preferably made telescopic in order that it may be adjusted to the diflierent sizes and still have the main portion thereof resting on the bottom of the apparatus to dispense with the strain which would otherwise occur if the receptacle were entirelysuspended from the seat. The main or lower portion of the receptacle is in the form of a cylinder 23, which is closed at the bottom and has a narrow flange 24 projecting inwardly at its upper end,which flange is provided with a plurality of slots 25 formed therein. The upper or bowl-shaped portion of the recepta cle consists of the cylindrical portion 26, which is preferably provided with two sets of pins 27 and 28, which are suitably located to pass through the recesses 25, as is necessary in adjusting the two parts or in entirely separating them. The top part 29 of this upper portion of the receptacle is of a generally conical flaring shape and is provided with the outwardly-projecting horizontal flange 30, which is adapted to rest against the under side of the seat 21, surrounding the aperture, and is provided with the bayonet-slots 31, through which pass the heads 32 of pins secured on the under side of the seat, so that by passing the large parts of the slots 31 over the heads 32 and giving the receptacle a slight rotation it will be supported from the seat. To facilitate giving this rotation to the receptacle, I preferably provide the handles 33, secured to the sides of the flaring portion 29.

As the seat 21, provided for adults, is not well adapted for the use of children, I provide the auxiliary seat 34, which is separated longitudinally by the diagonal cut in to two halves, each of which is hinged, as at 35, to the upper portions of the supplemental frame 12.

The aperture for this supplemental seat 34 is made smaller than the aperture of the main seat and is preferably located farther forward, so that it will be more conveniently located for the use of children. hen the apparatus is to be used by adults, as in Fig. 1, the supplemental seat is turned back out of the way; but when it is to be used for children it is turned into position.

The cover 36 for the entire apparatus is hinged to the rear of the supplemental frame by the hinges 37 and is adapted to fold down on the supplemental seat when it is in position. To accommodate the hinges 35, the cover 36 has the slots 38 on the under surface thereof in proper position.

As a support for children I preferably provide the arms 39, which may be of the shape shown and which are hinged to the main frame by the hinges 40 and which when not needed hang down by the sides of the main frame, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3. When needed, they are swung up into the position shown in Fig. 2 and are preferably secured by some means, such as the latches 41, which are pivoted to the sides of the supplemental frame and which are preferably provided with the thumb-screws 42, by which they may be held in either position of adjustment. These latches are provided with the offset 43, (best shown in Fig. 3,) which serves to permit the latch to be pivoted to the supplemental frame and at the same time swing down out of the way over the main frame, as seen in Fig. 3, or to be swung up in position to support the arms 39, which are, in effect, continuations of the sides of the main frame when they are in position.

The use of the apparatuswill be apparent, and it will be equally apparent that it can be readily adjusted in either of the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and that when not in use it can be closed up and presents a neat appearance. W'ith the construction of the receptacle shown it will be apparent that it can be quickly and easily removed and likewise easily cleaned.

l/Vhile l have shown and described my invention as embodied in the form which I at present consider best adapted to carry out its purposes, it will be understood that it is capable of modifications and that I do not desire to be limited in the interpretation of the following claims except as may be necessitated by the state of the prior art.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. Acommode consisting of a main frame, a supplemental frame carried thereby, a seat on the supplemental frame, a telescopic receptacle, and means for vertically adjusting the position of the supplemental frame in the main frame and at the same time automatically telescoping the receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A commode consisting of a main frame, a supplemental frame carried thereby, a seat on the supplemental frame, a two-part, telescopic receptacle attached to the seat, and means for vertically adjusting the position of the supplemental frame in the main frame and at the same time automatically telescoping the receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose described. 7

3. A commode consisting of a main frame, a supplemental frame carried thereby, a seat on the supplemental frame, a telescopic receptacle, and means for vertically adjusting the position of the supplemental frame in the main frame and at the same time automatically telescoping the receptacle, said means consisting of pins in the main frame adapted to be moved into and out of a corresponding number of a series of recesses formed in the supplemental frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. Acommode consisting of a main frame, a supplemental frame carried thereby, springs interposed between the main frame and the supplemental frame and tending to lift the latter, a seat on the supplemental frame, a receptacle, and means for securing the supplemental frame in any position of vertical adjustment relative to the main frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. Acommode consisting of a main frame, a supplemental frame carried thereby, helically-coiled expansible springs interposed between the main frame and the supplemental frame and tending to lift the latter, a seat on the supplemental frame, a receptacle, and means for securing the supplemental frame in any position of vertical adjustment relative to the main frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. A commode consisting of a main frame, a supplemental frame carried thereby, a seat on the supplemental frame, a two-part, telescopic receptacle consisting of a cylindrical lower part having a closed bottom, and an in-- wardly-projecting flange at its top provided with a plurality of recesses, and of an upper part having a smaller cylindrical portion adapted to fit in the lower part and provided with a plurality of projections adapted to register with the recesses in the flange, and means for vertically adjusting the position of the supplemental frame in the main frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. A commode consisting of a main frame, a supplemental frame carried thereby, a seat on the supplemental frame, a receptacle, means for detachably securing the receptacle to the under side of the seat, a door in the main frame giving access to the receptacle, means for vertically adjusting the position of the supplemental frame in the main frame, a pair of arms pivoted to the main frame and adapted to be raised into operative position in the lower position of adjustment of the supple- IIC mental frame, and to be swung out of operation in the higher position, and the detent members pivoted to the supplemental frame, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. A commode consisting of a main frame, a supplemental frame carried thereby, a plurality of seats on the supplemental frame, the upper one having the smaller aperture and being adapted to swing from above the lower one when desired, a telescopic receptacle supported from the lowermost seat, means for detachably securing the receptacle to the under side of said lowermost seat, a door in the main frame giving access to the receptacle, and means for vertically adjusting the position of the supplemental frame in the main frame and at the same time automatically telescoping the receptacle.

9. A commode consisting of a main frame, a supplemental frame carried thereby, a plurality of seats on the supplemental frame, the uppermost of said seats having the smaller aperture and being divided longitudinally and hinged at its sides so that it can be swung from above the lower one when desired, a telescopic receptacle, means for detachabl y securing the receptacle to the under side of said lowermost seat, a door in the main frame giving access to the receptacle, and means for vertically adjusting the position of the supplemental frame 3 in the main frame and at the same time automatically telescoping the receptacle.

10. A commode consisting of a main frame, a supplemental frame carried thereby, a seat on the supplemental frame, a telescopic recep- 35 tacle, means for vertically adjusting the position of the supplemental frame in the main frame and at the same time automatically telescoping the receptacle, and a pair of arms adapted to be raised into operative position in 4 the lower position of adjustment of the supplemental frame and to be swung out of position in the higher adjustment, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my 45 

